Plateau Indigenes To Gowon :Prevent Extension Of Emergency Rule
FROM ISA ABDULSALAMI, JOS
TO the citizens of Plateau State,the countdown has begun for an end to the six months emergency rule imposed by President Olusegun Obasanjo on the state on May 18.
Tomorrow,he is visiting the state to honour former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), at a thanksgiving service to mark his 70th birthday.
For the indigenes,it is an auspicious time to ask Gen. Gowon to ensure the event goes beyond merry-making. He is to use his good ties and seniority in the military to prevail on President Obasanjo not to extend emergency rule after November 17 .
So far, Gowon has received letters from 15 groups, urging him to wade into the matter so that all the suspended democratic structures are restored by November 18, this year .
There are unconfirmed speculations however that the Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, the Sole Administrator, Maj-Gen. Chris Alli (rtd) and Mallam Bello Yero, a member of the House of Representatives from Wase met in Abuja on October 20, at the State's Liaison Office to plan for the extension of the emergency regime.
In a reaction, The Director of Press Affairs to the Administrator, Mr. Ezekiel Dalyop, admitted they were in Abuja on the said day and lodged at the Plateau State Liaison Office. He however denied knowledge of such a meeting.
Dalyop said: "This is the moment of flow of speculations because of the peculiar atmosphere in the state. People who see you just standing with somebody else will start to speculate. This is not healthy and helpful for Plateau State."
Obasanjo is billed to attend the thanksgiving service tomorrow at St. Paul's Church, Jos.
Although the indigenes are not expecting a categorical statement from the President on the emergency rule, they believe that Gowon can persuade him to restore democracy in his home state.
Among the prominent groups that have written letters to Gowon on the matter are the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the women's wing led by prominent woman politician, Madam Hanatu Chollom, COCIN Youth, Plateau Democratic Institute among others.
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